Latest news with #Cincinnati-HamiltonCountyCommunityActionAgency
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Gwen L. Robinson, Cincinnati trailblazer and community champion, dies at 78
Gwen L. Robinson, who served as the president and CEO of the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency (CAA) for 23 years, passed away Monday at the age of 78. The CAA, in an Instagram post, said Robinson was a "true champion" for the community, who "dedicated her life to ensuring residents live in a community where everyone is equipped with the tools and resources to be self-sufficient." Robinson joined the organization in 1995. It strives to lift individuals and families out of poverty through services such as job training and housing assistance. She served the organization for over two decades before officially retiring in 2018. "Under her leadership, countless individuals and families found support, hope, and opportunities to thrive," the post reads. "Her impact will never be forgotten, and her passion for service continues to inspire us all." During her tenure, Robinson received several accolades, including being named among The Enquirer's 2006 Women of the Year. The award honors outstanding women who've changed the Cincinnati community for the better. "I just knew I always wanted to be moving forward," she told The Enquirer during an interview in 2006. "If something was going to change, I wanted to be part of that." Among her other awards and honors: 2010 Profile in Courage YWCA Career Women of Achievement Ladies of Distinction 2007 Honoree NAACP 2006 Wright Overstreet Award Radio One Women Empowerment Award Dada Rafiki Award In addition to her work at CAA, Robinson served as vice chair on the Metro Board of Trustees. She was appointed by the City of Cincinnati in 2012. According to Metro's website, she was also the first African-American president of the Cincinnatus Association, a civic group whose mission is "to initiate, recognize, participate in, and promote projects that improve the quality of life for all citizens in the Greater Cincinnati region." The CAA's current president and CEO Mark B. Lawson said it's hard to imagine a world without Robinson. "She was a force," Lawson said. "She was a visionary leader who cared passionately for her community and spent her career working to make things better for those struggling. We miss her." Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval called her a "fighter of injustice" and "champion for equity." "Thank you for everything you gave, and for the inspiration you leave behind," the mayor wrote on Facebook. Information about the circumstances of her death was not immediately available. A memorial will be held at Corinthian Baptist Church, 1920 Tennessee Ave., in Bond Hill on Sunday, March 23. The family greeting begins at 12:30 p.m., with a celebration of life at 2 p.m. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Gwen L. Robinson, Cincinnati trailblazer and CAA leader, dies at 78
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Cincinnati's Connected Communities policy could change. Give your feedback this Saturday
Cincinnatians will have another chance to weigh in on possible changes to the city's Connected Communities zoning policy. The independent working groups created last fall to review the policy will host a town hall on Saturday, Feb. 15th that's free and open to the public. The event comes nearly eight months after Cincinnati's city council passed the controversial overhaul of the city's outdated, century-old zoning code. Designed to address the city's housing shortage, the policy changed zoning around neighborhood business districts and major transit routes to bolster the development of more multi-family buildings. The policy was approved after two years of public engagement but not without significant public outcry. This led three of the city's nine council members − Scotty Johnson, Victoria Parks and Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney − to vote against Connected Communities. They cited the need for more engagement and the potential inclusion of an affordable housing clause. Five volunteer committees of Cincinnati civic leaders and average citizens make up the official "Making Connected Communities Better" working groups. Since last fall, the committees have met regularly to research and create policy suggestions that address the need for accessibility, affordable housing, improved infrastructure and the preservation of neighborhood character. 'We are looking for feedback from the public,' said Vice Mayor Kearney in a press release. 'All expert and non-expert opinions on the policy suggestions are valuable." The working group plans to share a draft report of their recommendations with the city administration, city council and the public. More: "Change to happen overtime" Cincinnati just passed Connected Communities. What happens now? The town hall meeting will take place on Saturday, Feb. 15th from noon to 3 p.m. at the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency at 1740 Langdon Farm Rd. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati's new zoning policy challenged in town hall this Saturday
